List of drainage basins by area

Major continental divides, showing drainage into the major oceans and seas of the world--Drainage basins of the principal oceans and seas of the world. Grey areas are endorheic basins that do not drain to the ocean.

The list of drainage basins by area identifies basins (also known as "catchments" or, in North American usage, "watersheds"), sorted by area, which drain to oceans, mediterranean seas, rivers, lakes and other water bodies. All basins larger than 400,000 km2 (150,000 sq mi) are included as well as selected smaller basins. It includes drainage basins which do not flow to the ocean (endorheic basins). It includes oceanic sea drainage basins which have hydrologically coherent areas (oceanic seas are set by IHO convention).

The oceans drain approximately 83% of the land in the world. The other 17% – an area larger than the basin of the Arctic Ocean – drains to internal endorheic basins. There are also substantial areas of the world that do not "drain" in the commonly understood sense. In polar deserts, much of the snowfall sublimates directly into the air and does not melt into flowing water, while in tropical deserts precipitation may evaporate before joining any substantial water course. These areas can still be included in topographically defined basins if the hypothetical flow of water (or ice) over the surface of the ground (or ice sheet) is considered. For example, the Antarctic ice sheet can be divided into basins,[1] and most of Libya is included in the Mediterranean Sea basin even though almost no water from the interior actually reaches the sea.

## Basins

[edit]

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2008)

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| Continent color key

Africa | Asia | Asia/Europe | Europe | North America | Australia | South America | Antarctica
Basin  | Type  | Continent  | Drains to  | Basin area  | Notes

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km2 | mi2
Atlantic Ocean | Ocean | Multiple | n/a | 69,800,000  | 26,900,000 | [Note 1][2]
Arctic Ocean | Ocean | Multiple | n/a | 23,100,000  | 8,900,000 | [Note 1]
Pacific Ocean | Ocean | Multiple | n/a | 20,300,000  | 7,800,000 | [Note 1][2]
Indian Ocean | Ocean | Multiple | n/a | 19,400,000  | 7,500,000 | [Note 1]
Southern Ocean | Ocean | Antarctica | n/a | 14,000,000  | 5,400,000 | [Note 1][Note 2]
Mediterranean-Black Sea system | Mediterranean sea | Multiple | Atlantic Ocean [Note 3] | 7,770,000  | 3,000,000 | [3]
Amazon River | Primary river | South America | Atlantic Ocean | 6,200,000  | 2,400,000  | [4]
Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea | Mediterranean sea | Multiple | Atlantic Ocean [Note 3] | 6,200,000  | 2,400,000 | [Note 1]
Mediterranean Sea | Mediterranean sea | Multiple | Atlantic Ocean [Note 3] | 5,880,000  | 2,270,000  | 2,060,000[3]
Hudson Bay drainage basin | Mediterranean sea | North America | Atlantic Ocean | 3,861,400  | 1,490,900 |
Congo River | Primary river | Africa | Atlantic Ocean | 3,730,881  | 1,440,501 | [4]
Caspian Sea | Lake | Asia/Europe | n/a (endorheic basin) | 3,626,000  | 1,400,000 |
Nile River | Primary river | Africa | Mediterranean Sea | 3,254,853  | 1,256,706 | [4]
Mississippi-Missouri River | Primary river | North America | Gulf of Mexico | 3,202,185  | 1,236,371 | [4]
Bay of Bengal | Bay | Asia | Indian Ocean | 3,200,000  | 1,200,000 |
Río de la Plata | Estuary | South America | Atlantic Ocean | 3,170,000  | 1,220,000 | [5]
Ob River | Primary river | Asia | Arctic Ocean | 2,982,493  | 1,151,547 | [4]
Paraná River | Tributary river | South America | Río de la Plata | 2,582,704  | 997,188 | [4]
Yenisei River | Primary river | Asia | Arctic Ocean | 2,554,388  | 986,255 | [4]
Chad Basin | Endorheic basin | Africa | n/a (endorheic basin) | 2,497,738  | 964,382 | [4]
Lena River | Primary river | Asia | Arctic Ocean | 2,306,743  | 890,638 | [4]
Black Sea | Mediterranean sea | Asia/Europe | Mediterranean Sea [Note 3] | 2,430,000  | 940,000 | [3]
Niger River | Primary river | Africa | Atlantic Ocean | 2,261,741  | 873,263 | [4]
Ganges–Brahmaputra | Primary river | Asia | Bay of Bengal | 1,999,000  | 772,000  | [6]
Amur River | Primary river | Asia | Pacific Ocean | 1,929,955  | 745,160 | [4]
Mackenzie River | Primary river | North America | Beaufort Sea | 1,805,200  | 697,000 | [7]
Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) | Primary river | Asia | Pacific Ocean | 1,722,193  | 664,942 | [4]
Baltic Sea | Mediterranean sea | Europe | Atlantic Ocean [Note 3] | 1,700,000  | 660,000 | [Note 1]
Irtysh River | Tributary river | Asia | Ob River | 1,673,470  | 646,130 |
Aral Sea | Lake | Asia | n/a (endorheic basin) | 1,618,750  | 625,000 |
Madeira River | Tributary river | South America | Amazon River | 1,485,218  | 573,446 |
Volga River | Primary river | Europe | Caspian Sea | 1,410,951  | 544,771 | [4]
Persian Gulf | Mediterranean sea | Asia | Indian Ocean [Note 3] | 1,400,000  | 540,000 | [Note 1]
St. Lawrence Estuary | Estuary | North America | Gulf of Saint Lawrence | 1,344,200  | 519,000 | [4][7]
Zambezi River | Primary river | Africa | Indian Ocean | 1,332,574  | 514,510 | [8]
Missouri River | Tributary river | North America | Mississippi River | 1,331,810  | 514,210 |
Lake Eyre Basin | Lake | Australia | n/a (endorheic basin) | 1,210,000  | 470,000 | [9]
Ganges River | Primary river | Asia | Bay of Bengal  | 1,200,000  | 463,322  | [4]
Paraguay River | Tributary river | South America | Paraná River | 1,095,000  | 423,000 |
Indus River | Primary river | Asia | Arabian Sea | 1,081,718  | 417,654 | [4]
Nelson River | Primary river | North America | Hudson Bay | 1,072,300  | 414,000 | [10]
Murray-Darling basin | Primary river | Australia | Southern Ocean | 1,050,116  | 405,452 | [4]
St. Lawrence River | Primary river | North America | Atlantic Ocean | 1,049,636  | 405,267 | [4]
Angara River | Tributary river | Asia | Yenisei River | 1,039,000  | 401,000 | [11]
Lake Chad (New Conventional Basin) | Lake | Africa | n/a (endorheic basin) | 1,035,000  | 400,000 | [12]
Lake Winnipeg | Lake | North America | Nelson River | 982,900  | 379,500 | [10]
Great Slave Lake | Lake | North America | Mackenzie River | 976,200  | 376,900 |
Orinoco River | Primary river | South America | Atlantic Ocean | 953,675  | 368,216 | [4]
Orange River | Primary river | Africa | Atlantic Ocean | 941,351  | 363,458 | [4]
Kasai River | Tributary river | Africa | Congo River | 925,172  | 357,211 |
Shatt al-Arab (Tigris, Euphrates & Karun) | Primary river | Asia | Persian Gulf | 916,200  | 353,700 | [13]
Tarim Basin | Endorheic basin | Asia | n/a (endorheic basin) | 906,500  | 350,000 | [14]
North Sea | Mediterranean sea | Europe | Atlantic Ocean | 850,000  | 330,000 |
Yukon River | Primary river | North America | Bering Sea | 839,200  | 324,000 | [7]
Yellow River | Primary river | Asia | Pacific Ocean | 832,238  | 321,329 | [15][Note 4]
Mekong River | Primary river | Asia | Pacific Ocean | 805,604  | 311,045 | [4]
Jubba-Shebelle basin | Primary river | Africa | Indian Ocean | 805,100  | 310,900 | [16]
Great Lakes | Lake | North America | St. Lawrence River | 800,114  | 308,926 |
Danube River | Primary river | Europe | Black Sea | 795,656  | 307,204 | [4]
Syr Darya | Primary river | Asia | Aral Sea | 782,617  | 302,170 | [4]
Tocantins River | Primary river | South America | Atlantic Ocean | 764,213  | 295,064 | [4]
Ubangi River | Tributary river | Africa | Congo River | 754,830  | 291,440 |
Aldan River | Tributary river | Asia | Lena River | 729,000  | 281,000 |
Kalahari Basin/Okavango Basin | Endorheic basin | Africa | n/a (endorheic basin) | 721,258  | 278,479 | [4][17]
Rio Negro | Tributary river | South America | Amazon River | 720,114  | 278,038 |
Kolyma River | Primary river | Asia | Arctic Ocean | 679,934  | 262,524 | [4]
Columbia River | Primary river | North America | Pacific Ocean | 671,300  | 259,200 | [7]
Brahmaputra River | Tributary river | Asia | Ganges River | 651,335  | 251,482  | [4]
Colorado River | Primary river | North America | Gulf of California | 637,137  | 246,000 |
Mamoré River | Tributary river | South America | Madeira River | 630,835  | 243,567 | [18]
Red Sea | Mediterranean sea | Africa/Asia | Indian Ocean [Note 3] | 620,000  | 240,000 | [Note 1]
São Francisco River | Primary river | South America | Atlantic Ocean | 617,812  | 238,539 |
Slave River | Tributary river | North America | Great Slave Lake | 616,400  | 238,000 | [7]
Rio Grande | Primary river | North America | Gulf of Mexico | 607,934  | 234,725 | [4]
Lake Baikal | Lake | Asia | Angara River | 571,000  | 220,000 |
Songhua River | Tributary river | Asia | Amur River | 554,575  | 214,123 | [19]
Chari River | Primary river | Africa | Lake Chad | 548,747  | 211,872 |
Amu Darya | Primary river | Asia | Aral Sea | 534,739  | 206,464 | [4]
Euphrates | Tributary river | Asia | Shatt al-Arab | 532,300  | 205,500 | [20]
Xingu River | Tributary river | South America | Amazon River | 520,292  | 200,886 |
Bahr el Ghazal River | Tributary river | Africa | Nile | 520,000  | 200,000 |
Lake Balkhash | Lake | Asia | n/a (endorheic basin) | 512,015  | 197,690 | [4]
Dnieper River | Primary river | Europe | Black Sea | 511,650  | 197,550 | [21][Note 5]
Kama River | Tributary river | Europe | Volga River | 507,000  | 196,000 |
Jubba River | Primary river | Africa | Indian Ocean | 497,626  | 192,134 | [4][Note 6]
Great Basin | Endorheic basin | North America | n/a (endorheic basin) | 492,000  | 190,000 | [22][Note 7]
Ohio River | Tributary river | North America | Mississippi River | 490,603  | 189,423 |
Lower Tunguska River | Tributary river | Asia | Yenisei river | 473,000  | 183,000 |
Vilyuy River | Tributary river | Asia | Lena River | 454,000  | 175,000 |
Pearl River | Primary river | Asia | Pacific Ocean | 453,700  | 175,200 |
Tapajós River | Tributary river | South America | Amazon River | 453,510  | 175,100 | [23]
Selenga River | Tributary river | Asia | Lake Baikal | 445,245  | 171,910 |
Don River | Primary river | Europe | Black Sea | 443,729  | 171,325 | [24][Note 8]
Arkansas River | Tributary river | North America | Mississippi River | 435,122  | 168,002 |
Tobol River | Tributary river | Asia | Irtysh River | 426,000  | 164,000 |
Limpopo River | Primary river | Africa | Indian Ocean | 421,123  | 162,596 | [4]
Senegal River | Primary river | Africa | Atlantic Ocean | 419,575  | 161,999 | [4]
Irrawaddy River | Primary river | Asia | Indian Ocean | 413,710  | 159,730 | [4]
Volta River | Primary river | Africa | Atlantic Ocean | 407,093  | 157,179 | [4]
Colorado River (Argentina) | Primary river | South America | Atlantic Ocean | 373,863  | 144,349 | [26][Note 9]
Sistan Basin | Endorheic basin | Asia | n/a (endorheic basin) | 370,000  | 140,000 | [28]
Molopo River | Tributary river | Africa | Orange River | 367,201  | 141,777 |
Yamuna | Tributary river | Asia | Ganges | 366,223  | 141,399 |
Uruguay River | Primary river | South America | Río de la Plata | 365,000  | 141,000 | [Note 10]
Khatanga River | Primary river | Asia | Arctic Ocean | 364,000  | 141,000 |
Marañón River | Tributary river | South America | Amazon River | 363,286  | 140,266 | [29]
Guaporé River | Tributary river | South America | Mamoré River | 360,534  | 139,203 | [18]
Indigirka River | Primary river | Asia | Arctic Ocean | 360,400  | 139,200 |
Araguaia River | Tributary river | South America | Tocantins River | 358,125  | 138,273 |
Northern Dvina | Primary river | Europe | White Sea | 357,075  | 137,867 | [4]
Xi River | Tributary river | Asia | Pearl River | 353,100  | 136,300 |
Purus River | Tributary river | South America | Amazon River | 352,085  | 135,941 | [30]
Ucayali River | Tributary river | South America | Amazon River | 337,519  | 130,317 |
Shebelle River | Tributary river | Africa | Jubba River | 336,627  | 129,972 |
Saskatchewan River | Tributary river | North America | Lake Winnipeg | 335,900  | 129,700 | [7]
Benue River | Tributary river | Africa | Niger River | 335,035  | 129,358 |
Parnaíba River | Primary river | South America | Atlantic Ocean | 331,643  | 128,048 | [31][Note 11]
Blue Nile | Tributary river | Africa | Nile | 325,000  | 125,000 |
Pechora River | Primary river | Europe | Arctic Ocean | 322,000  | 124,000 |
Hai River | Primary river | Asia | Pacific Ocean | 318,200  | 122,900 |
Godavari River | Primary river | Asia | Indian Ocean | 314,829  | 121,556 | [33]
Peace River | Tributary river | North America | Slave River | 306,000  | 118,000 |
Panjnad River (Chenab & Sutlej) | Tributary river | Asia | Indus River | 300,000  | 120,000 |
Baker Lake/Chesterfield Inlet | Lake / estuary | North America | Hudson Bay | 299,000  | 115,000 | [34]
Red River of the North | Tributary river | North America | Lake Winnipeg | 287,500  | 111,000 | [7]
Churchill River (Hudson Bay) | Primary river | North America | Hudson Bay | 281,300  | 108,600 | [7]
Neva River | Primary river | Europe | Baltic Sea | 281,000  | 108,000 |
Taz Estuary | Estuary | Asia | Arctic Ocean | 262,000  | 101,000 |
Snake River | Tributary river | North America | Columbia River | 278,450  | 107,510 |
Liard River | Tributary river | North America | Mackenzie River | 277,100  | 107,000 | [7]
Lake Athabasca-Rivière des Rochers | Lake | North America | Slave River | 274,540  | 106,000 |
Salween River | Primary river | Asia | Indian Ocean | 271,888  | 104,977 | [4][Note 12]
Lukuga River | Tributary river | Africa | Congo River | 270,900  | 104,600 |
Luvua River | Tributary river | Africa | Congo River | 265,300  | 102,400 |
Kwango River | Tributary river | Africa | Kasai River | 263,400  | 101,700 |
Desaguadero River | Tributary river | South America | Colorado River or Endorheic | 260,000  | 100,000 |
Mapimí-Salado basin | Endorheic basin | North America | n/a (endorheic basin) | 260,000  | 100,000 |
Krishna River | Primary river | Asia | Indian Ocean | 258,948  | 99,980 |
Magdalena River | Primary river | South America | Atlantic Ocean | 257,438  | 99,397 |
Dongting Lake | Lake | Asia | Yangtze River | 257,000  | 99,000 | [36]
Japurá/Caquetá River | Tributary river | South America | Amazon River | 255,700  | 98,700 |
Nen River | Tributary river | Asia | Songhua River | 252,100  | 97,300 | [37]
Oka River | Tributary river | Europe | Volga | 245,000  | 95,000 |
Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta | Primary river | Europe | North Sea | 240,000  | 93,000 |
Stony Tunguska River | Tributary river | Asia | Yenisei river | 240,000  | 93,000 |
Beni River | Tributary river | South America | Madeira River | 239,825  | 92,597 | [18]
Lake Victoria | Lake | Africa | Nile River | 238,900  | 92,200 |
Yana River | Primary river | Asia | Arctic Ocean | 238,000  | 92,000 |
Lake Tanganyika | Lake | Africa | Lukuga River | 236,300  | 91,200 |
Sangha River | Tributary river | Africa | Congo River | 233,740  | 90,250 | [38]
Fraser River | Primary river | North America | Pacific Ocean | 233,100  | 90,000 | [7]
Zeya River | Tributary river | Asia | Amur River | 233,000  | 90,000 |
Liao River | Primary river | Asia | Pacific Ocean | 232,200  | 89,700 |
Ural River | Primary river | Asia/Europe | Caspian Sea | 231,000  | 89,000 |
Juruá River | Tributary river | South America | Amazon River | 225,828  | 87,193 |
Sobat River | Tributary river | Africa | Nile River | 225,000  | 87,000 |
Vitim River | Tributary river | Asia | Lena River | 225,000  | 87,000 |
Ogooué River | Primary river | Africa | Atlantic Ocean | 223,856  | 86,431 |
Tigris River | Tributary river | Asia | Shatt al-Arab | 221,400  | 85,500 | [39]
Platte River | Tributary river | North America | Missouri River | 219,916  | 84,910 |
Olenyok River | Primary river | Asia | Arctic Ocean | 219,000  | 85,000 |
Olyokma River | Tributary river | Asia | Lena River | 210,000  | 81,000 |
Shilka River | Tributary river | Asia | Amur River | 206,000  | 80,000 |
Rufiji River | Primary river | Africa | Indian Ocean | 204,450  | 78,940 | [40]
Kura River | Primary river | Asia | Caspian Sea | 198,300  | 76,600 |
Vaal River | Tributary river | Africa | Orange River | 196,438  | 75,845 |
Vistula | Primary river | Europe | Baltic Sea | 194,424  | 75,068 |
Ussuri River | Tributary river | Asia | Amur River | 193,000  | 75,000 |
Juruena River | Tributary river | South America | Tapajos River | 191,030  | 73,760 | [23]
Anadyr River | Primary river | Asia | Bering Sea | 191,000  | 74,000 |
Branco River | Tributary river | South America | Rio Negro | 189,925  | 73,330 |
Ishim River | Tributary river | Asia | Irtysh River | 189,000  | 73,000 |
Rhine | Primary river | Europe | North Sea | 185,300  | 71,500 |
Komadugu-Yobe River | Primary river | Africa | Lake Chad | 183,009  | 70,660 | [41]
Assiniboine River | Tributary river | North America | Red River | 182,000  | 70,000 | [7]
Pyasina River | Primary river | Asia | Pyasina Gulf | 182,000  | 70,000 |
Yellowstone River | Tributary river | North America | Missouri River | 181,000  | 70,000 |
Uyandina River | Tributary river | Asia | Indigirka River | 176,000  | 68,000 |
Kotuy River | Tributary river | Asia | Khatanga River | 176,000  | 68,000 |
Chenab River | Tributary river | Asia | Panjnad River | 176,000  | 68,000 | [42]
Han River | Tributary river | Asia | Yangtze River | 174,300  | 67,300 |
Huai River | Tributary river | Asia | Yangtze River | 174,000  | 67,000 |
Tshuapa/Ruki River | Tributary river | Africa | Congo River | 173,800  | 67,100 |
Maya River | Tributary river | Asia | Aldan River | 171,000  | 66,000 |
Salado River (Buenos Aires) | Primary river | South America | Atlantic Ocean | 170,000  | 66,000 |
Red River of the South | Tributary river | North America | Mississippi River | 169,890  | 65,590 |
Red River | Primary river | Asia | Gulf of Tonkin | 169,000  | 65,000 | [43]
Cuvelai River-Etosha Basin | Endorheic basin | Africa | n/a (endorheic basin) | 166,649  | 64,344 | [44]
Chesapeake Bay | Estuary | North America | Atlantic Ocean | 166,534  | 64,299 |
Helmand River | Primary river | Asia | Sistan Basin | 166,000  | 64,000 | [28]
Argun / Hailar River | Tributary river | Asia | Amur River | 164,000  | 63,000 |
Chao Phraya River | Primary river | Asia | Gulf of Thailand | 160,400  | 61,900 |
Hulun Lake | Lake | Asia | Amur River / endorheic | 160,335  | 61,906 | [Note 13]
Jialing River | Tributary river | Asia | Yangtze River | 160,000  | 62,000 |
Luangwa River | Tributary river | Africa | Zambezi River | 159,615  | 61,628 | [8]
Tisza River | Tributary river | Europe | Danube | 157,186  | 60,690 |
Torgay/Turgai River | Primary river | Asia | n/a (endorheic basin) | 157,000  | 61,000 |
Mbomou River | Tributary river | Africa | Ubangi River | 156,950  | 60,600 |
Great Bear River | Tributary river | North America | Mackenzie River | 156,500  | 60,400 |
Kafue River | Tributary river | Africa | Zambezi River | 155,805  | 60,157 | [8]
Kansas River | Tributary river | North America | Missouri River | 155,695  | 60,114 |
Ruvuma River | Primary river | Africa | Indian Ocean | 155,500  | 60,000 |
Essequibo River | Primary river | South America | Atlantic Ocean | 154,186  | 59,532 |
Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta | Primary river | North America | San Francisco Bay | 153,000  | 59,000 |
Ruo Shui | Primary river | Asia | Endorheic basin | 152,606  | 58,922 | [45]
Sankuru River | Tributary river | Africa | Kasai River | 151,112  | 58,345 | [46]
Atbarah River | Tributary river | Africa | Nile | 150,000  | 58,000 | [Note 14]
Taz River | Primary river | Asia | Taz Estuary | 150,000  | 58,000 |
Tietê River | Tributary river | South America | Paraná River | 150,000  | 58,000 |
Cuanza River | Primary river | Africa | Atlantic Ocean | 149,688  | 57,795 | [4]
Shire River (Lake Malawi) | Tributary river | Africa | Zambezi River | 149,159  | 57,591 | [8]
Elbe | Primary river | Europe | North Sea | 148,268  | 57,247 |
Putumayo River | Tributary river | South America | Amazon River | 148,000  | 57,000 |
Bani River | Tributary river | Africa | Niger River | 146,570  | 56,590 | [47]
Ottawa River | Tributary river | North America | St. Lawrence River | 146,300  | 56,500 | [7]
South Saskatchewan River | Tributary river | North America | Saskatchewan River | 146,100  | 56,400 | [7]
Lake Titicaca-Desaguadero River-Lake Poopó System | Endorheic basin | South America | n/a (endorheic basin) | 144,590  | 55,830 | [48]
Chambal River | Tributary river | Asia | Yamuna River | 143,219  | 55,297 |
Rio Grande (Paraná River) | Tributary river | South America | Paraná River | 143,000  | 55,000 |
Fitzroy River (Queensland) | Primary river | Australia | Pacific Ocean | 142,665  | 55,083 |
Thelon River | Primary river | North America | Baker Lake | 142,400  | 55,000 | [7]
Belaya River | Tributary river | Europe | Kama River | 142,000  | 55,000 |
Iriri River | Tributary river | South America | Xingu River | 141,745  | 54,728 | [49]
Teles Pires River | Tributary river | South America | Tapajos River | 141,620  | 54,680 | [23]
Mahanadi River | Primary river | Asia | Indian Ocean | 141,600  | 54,700 |
Ili River | Primary river | Asia | Lake Balkhash | 140,000  | 54,000
Sanaga River | Primary river | Africa | Atlantic Ocean | 140,000  | 54,000 | [50]
Min River (Sichuan) | Tributary river | Asia | Yangtze River | 140,000  | 54,000 |
Guaviare River | Tributary river | South America | Orinoco River | 138,447  | 53,455 | [51]
Pibor River | Tributary river | Africa | Sobat River | 137,130  | 52,950 | [52]
Santiago-Lerma basin | Primary river | North America | Pacific Ocean | 136,628  | 52,752 |
Apure River | Tributary river | South America | Orinoco River | 136,152  | 52,569 | [53]
Winnipeg River | Tributary river | North America | Lake Winnipeg | 135,800  | 52,400 | [7]
Albany River | Primary river | North America | Hudson Bay | 135,200  | 52,200 | [7]
Wei River | Tributary river | Asia | Yellow River | 135,000  | 52,000 |
Grijalva-Usumacinta basin | Primary river | North America | Gulf of Mexico | 134,400  | 51,900 |
Chulym River | Tributary river | Asia | Ob River | 134,000  | 52,000 |
Lukenie River | Tributary river | Africa | Congo River | 133,432  | 51,518 | [54]
Koksoak River | Primary river | North America | Ungava Bay | 133,400  | 51,500 | [7]
Orkhon River | Tributary river | Asia | Selenga River | 132,835  | 51,288 |
Uele River | Tributary river | Africa | Ubangi River | 131,856  | 50,910 | [55]
Tambo-Ene-Apurímac River | Tributary river | South America | Ucayali River | 131,460  | 50,760 | [56]
Lake Turkana | Lake | Africa | n/a (endorheic basin) | 130,860  | 50,530 |
Aripuanã River | Tributary river | South America | Madeira River | 130,340  | 50,320 | [18]
Malagarasi River | Tributary river | Africa | Lake Tanganyika | 130,000  | 50,000 |
Mar Chiquita | Endorheic basin | South America | n/a (endorheic basin) | 129,715  | 50,083 | [57]
Burdekin River | Primary river | Australia | Pacific Ocean | 129,700  | 50,100 |
Vyatka River | Tributary river | Europe | Kama River | 129,000  | 50,000 |
Yalong River | Tributary river | Asia | Yangtze River | 128,444  | 49,593 |
Taseyeva River | Tributary river | Asia | Angara River | 128,000  | 49,000 |
Ghaghara / Karnali River | Tributary river | Asia | Ganges River | 127,950  | 49,400 |
Trombetas River | Tributary river | South America | Amazon River | 127,643  | 49,283 | [58]
Tana River (Kenya) | Primary river | Africa | Indian Ocean | 126,026  | 48,659 |
Madre de Dios River | Tributary river | South America | Beni River | 125,287  | 48,374 | [18]
Green River | Tributary river | North America | Colorado River | 124,578  | 48,100 |
Kuskokwim River | Primary river | North America | Bering Sea | 124,319  | 48,000 |
Salado River (Argentina) | Tributary river | South America | Paraná River | 124,199  | 47,954 |
Taymyr River | Primary river | Asia | Kara Sea | 124,000  | 48,000 |
Canadian River | Tributary river | North America | Arkansas River | 123,221  | 47,576 |
Aruwimi River | Tributary river | Africa | Congo River | 122,853  | 47,434 | [59]
North Saskatchewan River | Tributary river | North America | Saskatchewan River | 122,800  | 47,400 | [7]
Prypiat River | Tributary river | Europe | Dnieper | 121,840  | 47,040 |
Vychegda River | Tributary river | Europe | Northern Dvina | 121,000  | 47,000 |
Mun River | Tributary river | Asia | Mekong River | 119,180  | 46,020 |
Oder | Primary river | Europe | Baltic Sea | 118,861  | 45,892 |
Porcupine River | Tributary river | North America | Yukon River | 117,900  | 45,500 | [7]
Loire | Primary river | Europe | Atlantic Ocean | 117,000  | 45,000 |
Lomami River | Tributary river | Africa | Congo River | 116,209  | 44,869 | [60]
Brazos River | Primary river | North America | Gulf of Mexico | 116,000  | 45,000 |
Mobile River | Primary river | North America | Gulf of Mexico | 115,000  | 44,000 |
Pecos River | Tributary river | North America | Rio Grande | 115,000  | 44,000 |
Pilcomayo River | Tributary river | South America | Paraguay River | 114,402  | 44,171 | [61]
Sutlej River | Tributary river | Asia | Indus River | 114,343  | 44,148 | [62]
Panj River | Tributary river | Asia | Amu Darya River | 114,000  | 44,000 |
Tanana River | Tributary river | North America | Yukon River | 114,000  | 44,000 |
Kwando/Chobe River | Tributary river | Africa | Zambezi River | 113,393  | 43,781 | [8]
Omolon River | Tributary river | Asia | Kolyma River | 113,000  | 44,000 |
Uchur River | Tributary river | Asia | Aldan River | 113,000  | 44,000 |
Balsas River | Primary river | North America | Pacific Ocean | 112,320  | 43,370 |
Pur River | Primary river | Asia | Taz Estuary | 112,000  | 43,000 |
Pranhita River | Tributary river | Asia | Godavari River | 109,078  | 42,115 |
Flinders River | Primary river | Australia | Gulf of Carpentaria | 109,000  | 42,000 |
Moose River (Ontario) | Primary river | North America | Hudson Bay | 108,500  | 41,900 | [7]
Hayes River | Primary river | North America | Hudson Bay | 108,000  | 42,000 | [7]
Anyuy River (Sakha) | Tributary river | Asia | Kolyma River | 107,000  | 41,000 |
Bermejo River | Tributary river | South America | Paraguay River | 106,924  | 41,284 | [61]
Cunene River | Primary river | Africa | Atlantic Ocean | 106,560  | 41,140 |
Back River | Primary river | North America | Arctic Ocean | 106,500  | 41,100 | [7]
Save River | Primary river | Africa | Indian Ocean | 106,420  | 41,090 |
Tennessee River | Tributary river | North America | Ohio River | 105,868  | 40,876 |
Aras River | Tributary river | Asia | Kura River | 104,785  | 40,458 |
Bahr Aouk River | Tributary river | Africa | Chari River | 103,577  | 39,991 | [63]
Wabash River | Tributary river | North America | Ohio River | 103,500  | 40,000 |
Colorado River (Texas) | Primary river | North America | Gulf of Mexico | 103,300  | 39,900 |
Severn River (northern Ontario) | Primary river | North America | Hudson Bay | 102,800  | 39,700 | [7]
Chindwin River | Tributary river | Asia | Irrawaddy River | 102,783  | 39,685 | [64]
Napo River | Tributary river | South America | Amazon River | 102,190  | 39,460 | [65]
Río Negro (Argentina) | Primary river | South America | Atlantic Ocean | 102,000  | 39,000 |
Logone River | Tributary river | Africa | Chari River | 101,481  | 39,182 | [66]
Anabar River | Primary river | Asia | Arctic Ocean | 100,000  | 39,000 |
Barito River (Borneo) | Primary river | Asia | Java Sea | 100,000  | 39,000 |
Kheta River | Tributary river | Asia | Khatanga River | 100,000  | 39,000 |
Markha River | Tributary river | Asia | Vilyuy River | 99,900  | 38,600 |
Donets | Tributary river | Europe | Don River | 98,900  | 38,200 |
Narmada River | Primary river | Asia | Arabian Sea | 98,800  | 38,100 |
Kapuas River (Borneo) | Primary river | Asia | South China Sea | 98,749  | 38,127 |
Rhône | Primary river | Europe | Mediterranean Sea | 98,556  | 38,053 |
Bandama River | Primary river | Africa | Atlantic Ocean | 98,500  | 38,000 |
Northern Sosva River | Tributary river | Asia | Ob River | 98,300  | 38,000 |
Neman River | Primary river | Europe | Baltic Sea | 97,864  | 37,786 |
La Grande River | Primary river | North America | James Bay | 97,600  | 37,700 |
Douro / Duero | Primary river | Europe | Atlantic Ocean | 97,502  | 37,646 |
Xiang River | Tributary river | Asia | Lake Dongting | 96,400  | 37,200 |
Onon River | Tributary river | Asia | Shilka River | 96,200  | 37,100 |
Sava River | Tributary river | Europe | Danube | 95,419  | 36,841 |
Athabasca River | Tributary river | North America | Lake Athabasca | 95,300  | 36,800 |

## See also

[edit]

* List of rivers by discharge
* List of rivers by dissolved load
* List of rivers by length
* Triple divide

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i This is an approximate value based on geospatial data from the USGS.[1] Approximate values for the area of Greenland and Antarctica were added to this data.
2. ^ The value listed here assumes that the entire continent drains to the ocean, such as through the many ice streams, outlet glaciers, and seasonal glacial streams along the coast. However, there are many small endorheic lakes, for example in the McMurdo Dry Valleys.
3. ^ a b c d e f g Note that the connection between a mediterranean sea (or a large estuary) and its parent ocean usually involves simultaneous inflow and outflow in the lower and upper water layers of the connecting channel. Depending on the salinity of the sea, the upper layer may either flow into or out from the ocean; the bottom layer will flow the opposite direction.
4. ^ Estimates for the Yellow River basin range from ca. 752,000 km2 (Chinese, English, French, German etc. wikipedia articles, none sourced) to 944,970 km2.[4]
5. ^ Estimates for the Dnieper basin range from 504,000 km2 (most wikipedia pages) to 533,966 km2[4]
6. ^ Excluding the Shebelle tributary river basin.
7. ^ The Great Basin is a set of endorheic drainage basins, the largest being the 35,910 km2 (13,860 sq mi) basin that drains into the Great Salt Lake.
8. ^ Official estimates for the Don basin range from 422,000 km2[25] to 458,694 km2.[4]
9. ^ Estimates for the Colorado basin range from 294,076 km2[27] to 403,005 km2.[4]
10. ^ 365,000 km2 is almost always quoted, though the area is only ca 351,000 km2 according to River Networks. Estimates as low as 297,211 km2[4] may perhaps exclude the Rio Negro tributary basin.
11. ^ Estimates range from 322,887 km2,[4] and 331,565 km2[27] to 344,112 km2[32]
12. ^ Rivers Network calculated an area of 266,354 km2.[35] Often-mentioned areas of ca 324,000 km2 are clearly too high.
13. ^ Combined drainage area of Kherlen River (103709 km2) & Orxon Rivers (56626 km2) [2]. "In years with high precipitation, the normally exit−less endorheic lake may overflow at its northern shore."
14. ^ Very rough estimate. Upper river's drainage area, including the Tekezé river is 120,430 km2 [3], lower drainage area is probably not as much as 69,572 km2 [4], as that includes much surrounding dessert.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Background". Archived from the original on 15 July 2007.
2. ^ a b "Largest Drainage Basins In The World". WorldAtlas. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
3. ^ a b c García-García, D. (2022). "Hydrological cycle of the Mediterranean-Black Sea system". Climate Dynamics. 59 (7–8): 1919–1938\. Bibcode:2022ClDy...59.1919G. doi:10.1007/s00382-022-06188-2. hdl:10045/121760. S2CID 238770852. "In the continents, the drainage basins discharging into the Mediterranean and Black seas are defined according to the global continental runoff pathways scheme (Oki and Sud 1998), and they cover 5.34 × 106 and 2.43 × 106 km2, respectively"7–8&rft.pages=1919-1938&rft.date=2022&rft_id=info:hdl/10045/121760&rft_id=https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:238770852#id-name=S2CID&rft_id=info:doi/10.1007/s00382-022-06188-2&rft_id=info:bibcode/2022ClDy...59.1919G&rft.au=García-García,+D.&rft_id=https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs00382-022-06188-2&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:List+of+drainage+basins+by+area" class="Z3988">
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar "Watersheds of the World 2005" (PDF). Water Resources eAtlas. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
5. ^ Raúl A. Guerrero; et al. (June 1997). "Physical oceanography of the Río de la Plata Estuary, Argentina". Continental Shelf Research. 17 (7): 727–742\. Bibcode:1997CSR....17..727G. doi:10.1016/S0278-4343(96)00061-1.
6. ^ Arnold, Guy (2000). World strategic highways. Taylor & Francis. p. 223\. ISBN 978-1-57958-098-8.
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "Rivers". The Atlas of Canada. Natural Resources Canada. Archived from the original on 2 February 2007. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
8. ^ a b c d e The Zambezi River Basin, page 6.
9. ^ "Map of the Lake Eyre basin". Environment.gov.au. 18 February 2011. Archived from the original on 20 February 2009. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
10. ^ a b "Canada Drainage Basins". The National Atlas of Canada, 5th edition. Natural Resources Canada. 1985. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
11. ^ "Freshwater Ecoregions of the World". feow.org. Archived from the original on 18 October 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
12. ^ "LakeNet - Lakes". worldlakes.org. Archived from the original on 26 September 2003. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
13. ^ Tigris Euphrates basin area at Rivers Network
14. ^ "Encyclopædia Britannica". Britannica.com. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
15. ^ Huang He Delta watershed at Rivers Network.
16. ^ "Hydropolitics in the Horn of Africa". somwe.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
17. ^ Ashton, Peter; Neal, Marian (2003). "An Overview of Key Strategic Issues in the Okavango Basin". Transboundary Rivers, Sovereignty and Development: Hydropolitical Drivers in the Okavango River Basin. African Water Issues Research Unit. pp. 31–63\. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.468.8632. ISBN 0-620-30497-9.
18. ^ a b c d e Madeira river basin at Rivers Network.
19. ^ Amur river basin at Rivers Network
20. ^ Lower, Middle and Upper Euphrates river basin at Rivers Network
21. ^ Dnieper river : Watersheds map at Rivers Network.
22. ^ "Boundary Descriptions and Names of Regions, Subregions, Accounting Units and Cataloging Units". USGS.gov. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
23. ^ a b c Tapajos basin at Rivers Network.
24. ^ Don River watershed at Rivers Network.
25. ^ Don River at the State water register of the Russian Federation
26. ^ Colorado watershed at Rivers Network.
27. ^ a b River Ecosystem Ecology: A Global Perspective, Gene E. Likens, Academic Press, 29 March 2010, page 359
28. ^ a b "Restoration and Sustainable Use of the Shared Sistan Basin" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. February 2005. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
29. ^ Maraõn basin at River Networks
30. ^ Rio Purus basin at Rivers Network
31. ^ Parnaiba Basin at Rivers Network.
32. ^ Ramos, Ramos, & Ramos (2014). Ichthyofauna of the Parnaíba river Basin, Northeastern Brazil. Biota Neotrop. 14(1).
33. ^ Goodavari River watersheds map at Rivers Network.
34. ^ Baker Basin at UNH/Global Runoff Data Centre
35. ^ Upper Salween at Rivers Network.
36. ^ Xi-jun Lai; Zi-ming Wang (October 2017). "Flood management of Dongting Lake after operation of Three Gorges Dam". Water Science and Engineering. 10 (4): 303. Bibcode:2017WSEng..10..303L. doi:10.1016/j.wse.2017.12.005.
37. ^ Amur river basin at Rivers Network.
38. ^ Sangha Basin at Rivers Network.
39. ^ Lower, Middle and Upper Tigris river basin at Rivers Network
40. ^ Rufiji river basin at Rivers Network.
41. ^ Hadedja - Jama'are - Komadugu Basin at Rivers Network
42. ^ Chenab river basin at Rivers Network.
43. ^ Red River Basin[usurped] page at redriverprogram.com
44. ^ "Cuvelai River-Etosha Pan Basin - AquaPedia Case Study Database". aquapedia.waterdiplomacy.org. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
45. ^ Li, Xin (2018). "Hydrological Cycle in the Heihe River Basin and Its Implication for Water Resource Management in Endorheic Basins". Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres. 123 (2): 890–914\. Bibcode:2018JGRD..123..890L. doi:10.1002/2017JD027889. S2CID 133846912.
46. ^ Sankuru basin at Rivers Network.
47. ^ Niger watershed maps at river networks. The often quoted 101,600 km2 is the basin upstream of Douna.
48. ^ Canedo, Claudia; Pillco Zolá, Ramiro; Berndtsson, Ronny (12 April 2016). "Role of Hydrological Studies for the Development of the TDPS System". Water. 8 (4): 144. doi:10.3390/w8040144.
49. ^ Rio Xingu watershed map at Rivers Network.
50. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
51. ^ Guaviare river basin at Rivers Network
52. ^ Lehner, Bernhard; Verdin, Kristine; Jarvis, Andy (4 March 2008). "New Global Hydrography Derived From Spaceborne Elevation Data". Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union. 89 (10): 93–94\. doi:10.1029/2008eo100001. ISSN 0096-3941.
53. ^ Apure river basin at Rivers Network
54. ^ Lukenie Basin at Rivers Network.
55. ^ Uele Basin at Rivers Network.
56. ^ Ucayali river basin at Rivers Network
57. ^ Mar Chiquita Watershed at riversnetwork.org
58. ^ Lower Amazon watershed at Rivers Network
59. ^ Aruwimi Basin at Rivers Network.
60. ^ Lomami Basin at Rivers Network.
61. ^ a b Rio Paraguay watersheds map at Rivers Network.
62. ^ Sutlej river basin at Rivers Network.
63. ^ "Chari - Golongosso". www.grdc.sr.unh.edu.
64. ^ "Chindwin river : Watershed map".
65. ^ "rio Napo : Watersheds map".
66. ^ Chari-Logone rivers watershed mapes at rivers networks.

## External links

[edit]

* Watersheds of the World | World Resources Institute. wri.org. 7 January 2003. ISBN 9781569735480. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
* Lake database[usurped]